Anti-Pot Group Says Lawsuit Will Challenge Colorado Marijuana Laws

By
Daniel Wallis, Reuters
on February 19, 2015

Opponents of Colorado’s marijuana legalization are expected to file a federal lawsuit on Thursday that will seek to shut down the state’s new industry and which they say will accuse participants of violating racketeering laws.

Voters in Colorado chose to legalize the use of recreational marijuana by adults in a landmark 2012 ballot, even as the drug remains federally outlawed. Washington state has also legalized recreational pot, while Alaska and Oregon are following suit.

But the Safe Streets Alliance, a Washington, D.C.-based group which describes itself as a national non-profit aimed at reducing youth drug use and violent crime, said its lawsuit will allege that state and local officials in Colorado are violating federal law by promoting the commercialization of marijuana.

“Safe Streets is asking the federal courts to order Colorado officials to comply with federal law and stop issuing state licenses to deal illegal drugs,” it said in an online statement.